The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Three offbeat tales that border on the surreal yet are curiously
(and paradoxically) anchored in a version of historical reality.

In the first story,
“The Great Exception,” an unnamed admiral tells a queen he believes the Earth
is pear-shaped rather than round and requests money to allow him to fulfill his
vision of exploration. This she grants him, though his voyage concludes with
the natives of “Kuba” cooking and eating him. (First, however, they sever his
toes so he can't “tromp inland and subjugate the island.”) While awaiting word
of the disposition of the admiral’s voyage, the queen pines for him with an
intensity bordering on the sexual. In “Debouchment,” despite a woman’s
disclaimer that life on an island (also reminiscent of Cuba) is not especially
violent, a faith healer provides hope to the people in his illegal radio
broadcasts—all this in a landscape where there are “humans hanging in the trees
beyond the security fence.” The final story is the most complex and subtle, and
it gives the collection its title. The action unfolds explicitly in Havana in
1952 against a backdrop of Batista's rise to power; it focuses on the
mysterious Rachel K, a “zazou” dancer from Paris who entertains (in all senses)
her male audience and particularly gets the attention of Christian de la
Mazière, a French Nazi now living on the island after having been sentenced to
five years in a rather cushy prison.

A short, quirky and
sometimes-compelling book from the author of The Flamethrowers (2013).

Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.